Abdominal supporter



(No Model.)

A v H. WADE. ABDOMINALISUPPORTER.

' PatBnf E AfiLIO THE NAYIONAL utuoenunma cumuuv.

UNITED STATES ALZIRA H. WADE, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

PATENT OFFICE.

ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,941, dated April 10,1894.

Application filed April 10, 1893. Serial No. 46 9,811. (No model.)

v To, all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALZIRA'H. WADE, of Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, United States of America, have invented a certain new and Improved Abdominal Support, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to abdominal supports for all classes of women and for men inclined to corpulency.

The object of the invention is to provide a light, thin and elastic abdominal support forming an elastic belt or band, which, after being once adjusted to. fit the form of the wearer, may thereafter be readily put on or removed without unloosening any parts or in any way changingthe adjustment thereof.

My invention consists in various details of construction and in combinations, all as herethe size of the belt or support. Fig. 4 is a perspective front view of my support. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail showing the manner of fastening the adjustable parts. Fig. 6 is a detail of a modified form of fastening.

As shown in the drawings, my support or 3 5 abdominal belt is made up of the wide front piece or cloth 2, the vertical back strips 3 and the side strips 4, 5, 6, and 7. The number of these inelastic but flexible vertical parts may be increased and I prefer the use of at least six. Between the several vertical parts and connecting with the same I arrange the short elastic strips or pieces 8 sewed thereto at the ends and of such length that they are perfectly supported by the upright parts and 5 are thus prevented from spreading or drawing apart, in which case the underlying parts of the body of the wearer would be but poorly and unevenly supported. This feature of a large number of the narrow vertical parts 50 connected by the short elastic straps or bands I consider to be the most important of myinvention, as in this way I am enabled to apply the retaining pressure evenly without the use of any heavy and stiff straps, which, whenever employed, cause the wearer much aunoyance and often great pain.

When my support is made to order for a particular person, no provision foradjustment need necessarily be made, but in order that the same may be placed upon the market in large numbers and ready for convenient use by persons of all sizes, I preferably provide means for taking up or loosening the belt.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, two or more of the top straps 8 are arranged with an adjustable fastening 9 whereby the top of the belt may be drawn in to fit a slender waist and prevent the support from dropping down. These fastenings may be changed and fixed before the support is drawn into place, thereby avoiding the straining or breaking of the elastic strips which would be likely to occur if an attempt was made to draw them up af- 1 ter the support had been placed upon the body. I further provide buckles or'other fastenings 10 in connection with the elastic strips extending between the parts 3 and preferably in each of strips or bands. I preferably make these fastenings in the form shown in Fig. 5, the buckles resembling suspender 8o buckles but being much smaller. In place thereof I may provide hooks 11 upon the cloth strips and arrange the metallic eyes 12 in the elastic strips. In addition to these means of adjustment, I also prefer to use downwardly extending and wide strips 13 and 14,'preferably elastic and joined by a buckle 15. The ends of the strips are fastened upon the forward side pieces 5 and 6 so that the lower and front part of the support may be drawn go in underneath the abdomen and furnish an additional strengthener and support therefor.

Owing to the. elasticity of all horizontal parts, this support may be readily slipped on over the head and thence down upon the hips 5 and thighs where its ownelastic strength will hold it in place.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- Y The combination, in an abdominal support, with the elastic strips in the back of the belt, of a series of closely and vertically arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth. IO flexible but inelastic parts, with a series of In testimony whereof I have hereunto set short horizontal elastic strips connecting said my hand this 6th day of April, 1893.

5 parts, respectively, and held in place there- ALZIRA H. WADE.

by, adjusting means provided in the sides In presence of--' and upper parts of the belt so formed, and FREDERICK S. LYON,

adjustable devices arranged in connection 0. G. HAWLEY. 

